(WASHINGTON) -- In late October, former CIA Director David Petraeus traveled to Libya to conduct his own review of the Benghazi attack that killed four Americans, including U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens.

While in Tripoli, he personally questioned the CIA station chief and other CIA personnel who were in Benghazi on Sept. 11 when the attack occurred.

The Libya stop was part of a six nation trip to the region. Petraeus intended the review as a way to prepare for his upcoming testimony before Congress on Benghazi.

I doubt Petraeus will ever testify to anything seriously damaging to the Administration or he will never testify at all. The Regime will make sure he is a safe witness by means we will probably never know.

It was posted somewhere on this board that the Obama administration knew of the affair before Gen Patraeus was hired for CIA. Many of us wondered why such an ideologically homogeneous administration would hire him. Maybe this is why... they thought he was neutered.

10
posted on 11/13/2012 10:49:30 AM PST
by pgyanke
(Republicans get in trouble when not living up to their principles. Democrats... when they do.)

But now Petraeus is telling friends he does not think he should testify.

Petraeus has offered two reasons for wanting to avoid testifying: Acting CIA Director Morell is in possession of all the information Petraeus gathered in conducting his review and he has more current information gathered since Petraeus' departure; and it would be a media circus.

Now the acting director, Morell served as deputy CIA director to Petraeus since 2010. He has been the agencys director of Asian Pacific and Latin American Analysis and the briefer of presidents on national security matters.

In that position, according to a White House aide, Morell often briefed Obama as the United States closed in on Osama bin Laden, earning the presidents trust and developing a close relationship with him.

Morell is extraordinarily well respected in the White House, across the intelligence community and throughout the national security establishment, the aide said, discussing the deputys elevation to acting director.

The smartest thing Petraeus did was to form a partnership early on with Michael Morell, who was acting director before his arrival and resumed that role Friday. Morell is a career analyst and veteran of the mill that produces the famous PDB, or presidents daily brief, and he knew the agencys culture  or at least the analysts version of it. His task was to encourage Petraeus when his commanders instincts made sense for the agency, and dissuade him when his ideas were counter-productive.

To that end, sources tell Reuters that a long-time CIA insider  not one of Petraeus guys  has been named as his new chief of staff. One person familiar with the matter identified him as Rodney Snyder, who has previously worked on the White House national security staff. But US officials would not immediately confirm that name.

With Petraeus, there was particular concern that an imported staff would give the military too much influence in a civilian agency that has increasingly assumed paramilitary functions. That concern helped prompt Petraeus to retire and remove his uniform before taking the job.

During his decorated U.S. Army career, Petraeus was known for being followed by an extensive staff of advisers as he moved from one command post to another. He may add new hires after he settles into the job, but U.S. officials said his immediate staff is already intact.

His chief of staff is Rodney Snyder, a CIA analyst who also served as the intelligence chief for the Department of Homeland Security. Michael J. Morell, who served as acting director of the CIA after Panetta stepped down, will resume his deputy role.

But Petraeus has insisted he will be serving the president and the policymakers, providing information, but not shaping policy.

And the White House and Petraeus both have taken steps to make peace.

Obama has promised Petraeus regular, weekly access in a capital where face time with the president equals influence.

Petraeus agreed to hire Obama White House veteran, and longtime CIA employee Rodney Snyder to be his chief of staff. Snyder has spent the past few years at the NSC, as a senior official on intelligence and counterterrorism issues.

I doubt Petraeus will ever testify to anything seriously damaging to the Administration or he will never testify at all. The Regime will make sure he is a safe witness by means we will probably never know.

He wanted to testify until they turned the screws on him. Heil, Jarrett.

22
posted on 11/13/2012 11:25:27 AM PST
by bgill
(We've passed the point of no return. Welcome to Al Amerika.)

“Oslimey is hanging criminal chaeges over his head just in case he decides to speak the truth”

“That’s exactly what’s going on.”

I believe that to be correct. I think the assault on Patraeus is revenge for his not accepting the WH story implicating his command’s responsibility for the failure in Benghazi just prior to the reelection of the Chicago Thug.

I also believe the White Air Force General is being persecuted to legitimize the actions against Patraeus, to put the second concrete boot on Patraeus’s feet so to speak prior to kicking him overboard.

The future I’d bet General Ward will be restored to four stars, and the four star salary. He’s one of Holder’s people, but the White General’s will all take the hit.

Is that Racist!? Yes! THEY are.

24
posted on 11/13/2012 11:31:45 AM PST
by rockinqsranch
(Dems, Libs, Socialists, call 'em what you will, they ALL have fairies livin' in their trees.)

I’ve always thought everyone jumped the gun on this so called “affair”. We need to stop listening to the media spin and think for ourselves. If it doesn’t pass the smell test, then there is something else going on. We tend to believe the media spin even though we talk about what liars and spinners they are. Facts look like on top of covering up Benghazi, Obama is cleaning the patriots out of the military in order to replace them with his minions. I think we are going to wind up with a military filled with Obama supporters, militant women and gays, in order to prevent a coup. OK flame away. I am going to go start dinner.

To be outside the administration when those in the House and Senate try to bring Obama down on Benghazi and voter fraud.

I do not understand what you are saying.

Petraeus was all set to testify until it became known the Republicans knew about the affair... Once that word became known then and only then did Petraeus quit. I have no reason to consider Petraeus would testify to anything that would conflict with what Obama and Clinton have claimed. B u t .... IF he were to keep the party line, there are a few Republicans that have done their homework that would NOT let him obfuscate his answers. Now throw in his affair into this steaming pile, there is NO way Obama or Clinton wanted Petraeus under oath.

If subpoenaed to testify, he will probably ask for and get Congressional immunity from prosecution for his testimony (and he will not be able to take the 5th). On top of that, he sees what Obama is doing to the country and the Army and is probably willing to tell the truth (as opposed to singing the WH line).

I would like nothing more than the secrets of Benghazi get exposed. But I will have to see what Petraeus actually does. Petraeus was not able to protect himself let alone those Americans stranded in Benghazi.

Petraeus didn't have the power to grant the Cross Border Authority needed to send (for example) jets or C-130 from Sigonella Naval Air Station (where they were standing on ready) into Libya.

Only the President can grant CBA...and if he doesn't, nothing can be done.

Here's another little tidbit about Congress granting immunity from prosecution to witness for their testimony (might be worth remembering, just in case.;-)...

Congressional committees have the power to grant testimonial immunity to witnesses who testify before members of Congress. Congressional investigations into allegations of misconductsuch as the Watergate investigations in the 1970s and the iran-contra investigations in the 1980srely heavily on witness testimony. Whereas prosecutors simply decide whether to grant immunity to a witness, congressional committees must follow more formal procedures. Immunity may be granted only after a two-thirds majority vote by members of the committee. Ten days before the immunized testimony is given, the committee must advise the Justice Department or the Independent Counsel of its intention to grant immunity.

Petraeus does a personal investigation and comes up with the REAL reason for the attack. He claimed it a Terroist Attack, pure and simple from the start. Now, Obummers group have a different story and we all know THEY actually went to Libia to do their investigation (NOT). Petraeus is now out hanging on a limb due to his own error in judgement and is being thrown under the bus. A strange story from the beginning and still not resolved.

What I find strange is that up until the Republicans made it known to the Director of the FBI, they had been told of an FBI investigation about Petraeus and Broadwell, the plan was for Petraeus to testify. His testimony could have turned into a food fight if he said anything that either the Republicans found questionable or IF Democrats found disloyal to Obama. His affair then would have taken center stage.

Indeed. We have to pray that he does the right thing and blows the lid off the admimistratiom’s lies and black ops. He needs to be supoened immediately...no waiting. Obama’s signed orders that night should be supoened ASAP too.

39
posted on 11/13/2012 6:48:33 PM PST
by penelopesire
(TIME FOR OBAMA TO ANSWER FOR BENGHAZI UNDER OATH!!)

I think we are going to realize that documents, emails, conversations have all been whitewashed to protect Obama. They have had ample time to clean it up. Obama wouldn’t be doing a presser tomorrow if he felt he didn’t have it under control. Expect some surprise “revelations” tomorrow from Obama.

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